Corgis are small fluffy and energetic dogs that are owned by a lot of households. Knowing that they are high-energy herding dogs, it’s interesting how they spend a lot of their time sleeping. So how much do Corgis sleep?
Corgis sleep for roughly 12-16 hours every day. This is an average amount of hours for most dogs. Corgi puppies tend to sleep around 18-20 hours daily. Older Corgis will sleep for 14-16 hours a day. There are some things that will cause your Corgi to sleep more or less.
- How Long Do Corgis Sleep?
- Why Is My Corgi So Tired?
- How To Make Your Corgi Sleep Better
- Should Your Corgi Sleep With You?
- Why Do Corgis Sleep Weird?
How Long Do Corgis Sleep?
The average time a Corgi will sleep through during the day heavily depends on its age. There is a difference in sleep time in Corgi puppies, adults, and seniors.
Corgi Puppies
Newborn Corgi puppies will sleep all the time in their first week. They will only wake up to nurse every 2 hours. The more they grow up the less sleep they will need. Once they are separated from their mothers, puppies can drink evaporated milk to stay healthy and strong.
From around 2-5 months of age, Corgi puppies sleep for 18-20 hours every day. This means that they will spend most of their days asleep.
Older puppies at around 6-12 months of age will sleep around 14-16 hours every day. The main goal is for them to sleep for the whole night, and then have a few short naps during the day. These naps can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours.
Adult Corgis
Corgis calm down at around 1 year of age. After that, their need to sleep less than they usually sleep as puppies.
On average, an adult Corgi will sleep for 12-16 hours every day. That covers about 50 percent of the whole 24-hour day. This is an average number because some Corgis will sleep longer, and some will sleep shorter depending on other factors.
The best way for your Corgi to get these hours is to train it to sleep for around 8-10 hours a night. Then it can take a few short naps during the day to reach the required time.
Senior Corgis
Middle-aged dogs will need a lot of sleep during the day. A Corgi is considered a senior once it reaches the 8-year mark. It won’t instantly get old, but you will notice subtle signs of aging with time.
You will catch your senior Corgi sleeping for around 14-16 hours every day. Once they get really old, at 10-14 years, they might need around 18 hours of restful sleep. There are instances where an old dog leaves wet spots on its bed during sleeping. This can be due to some more serious problem that needs attention.
The Corgi will probably take much more naps during the day compared to before. It also might struggle with waking up at night. This is not something to worry about as it is normal.
Why Is My Corgi So Tired?
There are many causes of excessive tiredness in Corgis. Some are caused by substandard care and include malnourishment and dehydration. Others are infections caused by parasites or bacteria. Mental problems like depression also cause tiredness. But there are more than these reasons.
Depression
One reason for being overly tired is depression. Depression happens in all dogs and can be caused by many reasons. Separation from its litter, mother, friends, or owner can cause depression in the Corgi.
Besides being tired and sleeping too much, the depressed Corgi will have these symptoms:
- Decreased appetite
- Clinginess
- Change in vocalization
- Aggressive behavior toward other animals
- Peeing and pooping everywhere
If you notice these symptoms in your Corgi, you should consult your vet for a therapy plan.
Dehydration
You will encounter a sleeping Corgi whenever it gets too dehydrated. Dehydration in dogs happens because of many factors. One reason is playing in the hot weather during the summer. Some health problems like vomiting and diarrhea can also cause dehydration.
Some symptoms besides tiredness and sleeping will include:
- Sticky and pale gums
- Excessive drooling and panting
- Dry nose and mouth
- Loss of elasticity on the skin
All dogs should drink around 1 ounce of fluids per pound of body weight. If your Corgi seems very dehydrated, make sure to consult your vet.
Malnourishment
If your Corgi is not getting enough nutrients in its food, it will suffer from malnutrition. Besides not getting enough food some health issues can also cause this.
Besides seeing your Corgi tired and asleep, you might also notice the following symptoms:
- Change in the feces
- Unexplained weight loss
- Skin and coat changes
- Lethargy
- Foul breath
To prevent this, you need to feed your Corgi well. On average, a Corgi will need around 1-2 cups of dog food every day. Make sure it is high-quality dog food filled with proteins, vitamins, and minerals.
Parasites
Parasitic infections are caused by little internal parasites or worms. These can include roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, tapeworms, and heartworms. All of them can present with increased tiredness and sleepiness.
Roundworms can cause stunted growth and gastric problems in puppies. The same symptoms can be caused by tapeworms.
Hookworms can cause severe anemia and eczema on the skin. Whipworms cause bloody diarrhea and weight loss. Heartworms are very dangerous as they settle into the heart and cause it to work improperly.
Each of these infections should be diagnosed and treated by a veterinarian.
Anemia
If your Corgi puppy is sleeping too much, it might be anemic. Anemia is a blood disorder where there is a low amount of red blood cells or hemoglobin. Because of that, not enough oxygen is transpired by the blood to get to the brain. This causes extreme tiredness and sleepiness.
But anemia can present with a few other symptoms:
- Pale gums
- Increased heart rate
- Labored breathing
- Weight loss
One cause of anemia is the loss of blood. This can happen acutely or chronically. No matter the reason, you should always consult your vet.
Hypothyroidism
Extreme tiredness and sleepiness can be common symptoms of hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is a disease of the thyroid glands that causes a decrease in their function. They secrete less thyroid hormone which decreases the metabolism.
This is not a very common illness in Corgis but it can occur at times. Besides the tiredness and sleepiness, you will also notice:
- Decreased appetite
- Weight gain
- Cold intolerance
- Dry skin and hair
- Slow heart rate
- Lack of desire to exercise
If you notice any of these symptoms, you should consult your vet.
How To Make Your Corgi Sleep Better
There are a few things you can do to help your Corgi sleep better. Your job as its owner is to provide it with the best care you can.
Buy It A Good Dog Bed
Corgi puppies sleep a lot, so they need a comfortable bed to sleep on. Different Corgis will like to sleep in different positions. They will also have different preferences for their beds. A good bed for senior Corgis for joint issues is an orthopedic dog bed that provides support.
You should place the dog bed in an area that your Corgi finds relaxing. The area should be very light or loud because that may wake it up. Playing white noise or calming music will also help create a relaxing atmosphere.
Follow A Schedule
If your Corgi is not sleeping well, you should help it maintain a proper schedule. This means determining specific dates for when it should go to sleep and wake up.
Having an irregular schedule will confuse the pup and cause disturbances in its sleep patterns. A good way to maintain healthy sleeping habits is to create cues to alert the dog when it’s time to sleep. This can be as simple as using the restroom or dimming the lights. You can also create a relaxing atmosphere signaling the pup that it’s time to sleep.
Time Its Meal Times Well
The timing of the meals is important to the quality of sleep. If you give the meals too late in the evening, your Corgi might need to wake up during the night to relieve itself. That will affect its sleep quality. Push the last meal time way back or right before sleeping to let enough time for your dog to poop.
Besides the food, when you give the water is also important. Limiting water intake before going to sleep is beneficial. Otherwise, your Corgi will need to pee during the night.
Exercise And Socialize
You know how often should your Corgi nap but do you know that to nap that much, it needs exercise in its daily routine? On average, Corgis need around 1 hour of exercise every day. This can be split into two sessions during the day. Usually, one in the early morning and one in the evening.
The exercise should consist of walking, running, hiking, or playing games. A daily walk to the dog park will also help in socializing the pup. Mental stimulation is also important.
If the Corgi doesn’t get enough exercise, it will become restless and won’t be able to fall asleep.
Look For Sleep Disturbances
Investigate and find the reasons causing your Corgi to have a bad sleep. Maybe there are noises coming from near traffic waking it up. Maybe it’s the morning light entering the windows. Whatever it is, you should try to solve it.
A good way to note any changes is to write a journal of your dog’s sleeping and eating patterns. Mark anything that happens during its sleeping hours and anything you do to make the sleep better. You might notice some things that stick out.
If you find any symptoms of disease, make sure to consult the vet for help.
Should Your Corgi Sleep With You?
Your Corgi sleeping with you will bring many benefits, but also many drawbacks. One interesting study suggests that sleeping with your dog will increase your levels of oxytocin. Let’s look at some more benefits and drawbacks.
Benefits of sleeping with your Corgi:
- Creating a feeling of safety for both
- Feeling less lonely
- Building a stronger bond
- Decreasing anxiety
- Keeps you warmer
Drawbacks of sleeping with your Corgi:
- Waking you up in the middle of the night
- You waking your dog up
- Worsening separation anxiety during the day
- The bed space gets smaller
- Possible transmissions of diseases
Those are some of the most important benefits and drawbacks. It is your choice to make if you want your dog to sleep next to you or not.
Why Do Corgis Sleep Weird?
You will find Corgis sleeping in different positions every time. They pick their position due to personal preference. The outside temperature and environment play a big part in the way it sleeps. There is meaning to all the poses your Corgi will take.
Curled Up
The curled-up sleeping position has a task to keep your Corgi warm. It is an instinct left from its days as a wild animal where it needed to keep warm during the colder days. This position is effectively protecting its belly and keeping its internal organs warm. Corgis have naturally long and fluffy tails that increase comfort and warmth. This position also has a defensive purpose.
On The Back
Corgis like sleeping on their backs when they feel safe and comfortable with their owners. It is also a way to show submission and trust in their owner. You may also find your Corgi sleeping on its back when it is too warm outside and it wants to cool off.
On The Stomach
Corgis take this position whenever they want to take a short nap but are alert in the process. They sprawl their paws and lie on the floor and look like “Superman”. If you decide to take it on a walk, it will be ready to just jump up from its nap and go.
On The Side
Sleeping on the side leaves the belly exposed just as sleeping on the back. This means that the dog is carefree and comfortable in the home. If you are sleeping back-to-back with your Corgi it means that it trusts you and you are developing a deeper bond.
Summary – How Much Do Corgis Sleep?
An adult, healthy Corgi should sleep around 12-16 hours every day. A Corgi puppy should sleep around 18-20 hours every day. A senior Corgi should sleep around 14-16 hours every day. But age is not the only factor affecting sleep.
Depression, dehydration, and malnourishment will affect your Corgi’s sleep. Infection with intestinal worms and dysfunction of the thyroid gland can also play a part. Your job as the owner is to find the reason for the disturbed sleep and seek a solution.
You can make your Corgi’s sleeping much more comfortable by creating a good schedule, and timing its meals and exercise hours. You should buy it a good bed and remove all disturbances to its sleep. You can also get your Corgi to sleep with you if you can withstand the disadvantages.
FAQ
Can Corgis be left alone during the day?
Your Corgi can stay home alone for around 8 hours a day. You should give it enough exercise before leaving it alone. Additionally, you can ask someone to check on it during the day.
Do Corgis get bored sleeping all day?
We know how much Corgis sleep and that can take a long part of the day. But your Corgi might still get bored if it doesn’t get anything to do but sleep.
Should Corgis sleep in a crate?
A dog crate is a safe space for the Corgi if you train it well. You can let your Corgi sleep in a crate if it wants to. Make sure it’s warm and big enough to be comfortable.
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